Optical member and display device including the same

ABSTRACT

An optical member includes a light guide plate, a first low refractive layer, a wavelength conversion layer, and a passivation layer. The first low refractive layer is disposed on the light guide plate. A refractive index of the first low refractive layer is smaller than a refractive index of the light guide plate. The wavelength conversion layer is disposed on the first low refractive layer. The passivation layer is disposed on the wavelength conversion layer. The passivation layer covers a side surface of the wavelength conversion layer and a side surface of the first low refractive layer on at least one side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/803,038, filed Nov. 3, 2017, which claims priority to and the benefitof Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0076521, filed Jun. 16, 2017,each of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as iffully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to an optical member and a display deviceincluding the same.

Discussion

A liquid crystal display receives light from a backlight assembly anddisplays an image. Some backlight assemblies include a light source anda light guide plate. The light guide plate receives light from the lightsource and guides the light toward a display panel. In some products,the light source provides white light, and the white light is filteredby a color filter on the display panel to achieve a color.

Research has been conducted on application of a wavelength conversion toimprove image quality, such as color reproducibility of a liquid crystaldisplay. Generally, a blue light source is used as a light source, and awavelength conversion film is disposed on a light guide plate to convertblue light into white light. The wavelength conversion film may includewavelength conversion particles. Since the wavelength conversionparticles are generally vulnerable to moisture, the wavelengthconversion film is typically protected with a barrier film also protectthe wavelength conversion particles. However, the barrier film isrelatively expensive and may increase thickness of a liquid crystaldisplay. Further, since the wavelength conversion film is usuallylaminated on the light guide plate, a relatively complicated assemblyprocess may be required.

The above information disclosed in this section is only forunderstanding the background of the inventive concepts, and, therefore,may contain information that does not form prior art.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments are capable of providing an optical member havinga light guide function and a sealed wavelength conversion layer.

Exemplary embodiments are capable of providing a display device thatincludes an optical member having a light guide function and a sealedwavelength conversion layer.

Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and, in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may belearned by practice of the inventive concepts.

According to some exemplary embodiments, an optical member includes alight guide plate, a first low refractive layer, a wavelength conversionlayer, and a passivation layer. The first low refractive layer isdisposed on the light guide plate. A refractive index of the first lowrefractive layer is smaller than a refractive index of the light guideplate. The wavelength conversion layer is disposed on the first lowrefractive layer. The passivation layer is disposed on the wavelengthconversion layer. The passivation layer covers a side surface of thewavelength conversion layer and a side surface of the first lowrefractive layer on at least one side.

According to some exemplary embodiments, an optical member includes alight guide plate, a low refractive layer, a barrier layer, a wavelengthconversion layer, and a passivation layer. The low refractive layer isdisposed on the light guide plate. A refractive index of the lowrefractive layer is smaller than a refractive index of the light guideplate. The barrier layer is disposed on the low refractive layer. Thewavelength conversion layer is disposed on the barrier layer. Thepassivation layer is disposed on the wavelength conversion layer. Thepassivation layer covers a side surface of the wavelength conversionlayer on at least one side.

According to some exemplary embodiments, a display device includes anoptical member, a light source, and a display panel. The optical memberincludes a light guide plate, a first low refractive layer, a wavelengthconversion layer, and a passivation layer. The first low refractivelayer is disposed on the light guide plate. A refractive index of thefirst low refractive layer is smaller than a refractive index of thelight guide plate. The wavelength conversion layer is disposed on thefirst low refractive layer. The passivation layer is disposed on thewavelength conversion layer. The passivation layer covers a side surfaceof the wavelength conversion layer and a side surface of the first lowrefractive layer on at least one side. The light source is disposed onat least one side of the light guide plate. The display panel isdisposed on the optical member.

According to some exemplary embodiments, a display device includes anoptical member, a light source, and a display panel. The optical memberincludes a light guide plate, a low refractive layer, a barrier layer, awavelength conversion layer, and a passivation layer. The low refractivelayer is disposed on the light guide plate. A refractive index of thelow refractive layer is smaller than a refractive index of the lightguide plate. The barrier layer is disposed on the low refractive layer.The wavelength conversion layer is disposed on the barrier layer. Thepassivation layer is disposed on the wavelength conversion layer. Thepassivation layer covers a side surface of the wavelength conversionlayer on at least one side. The light source is disposed on at least oneside of the light guide plate. The display panel is disposed on theoptical member.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concepts, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts, and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concepts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical member and a light sourceaccording to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along sectional line II-II′ ofFIG. 1 according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of low refractive layersaccording to various exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are cross-sectional views of optical membersaccording to various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 re cross-sectional views of optical membersaccording to various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 15a is a cross-sectional view of an optical member according tosome exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 15b is a perspective view of a mother optical member cut intoquarters according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are cross-sectional views of optical members accordingto various exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views of optical members accordingto various exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are cross-sectional views of optical members accordingto various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are cross-sectional views of optical members accordingto various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 27 and 28 are cross-sectional views of display devices accordingto various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of an optical film according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to someexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional of a display device according to someexemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however,that various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In otherinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplaryembodiments. Further, various exemplary embodiments may be different,but do not have to be exclusive. For example, specific shapes,configurations, and characteristics of an exemplary embodiment may beimplemented in another exemplary embodiment without departing from thespirit and the scope of the disclosure.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated exemplary embodiments are tobe understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of someexemplary embodiments. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, thefeatures, components, modules, layers, films, panels, regions, aspects,etc. (hereinafter individually or collectively referred to as“elements”), of the various illustrations may be otherwise combined,separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from thespirit and the scope of the disclosure.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the accompanying drawings isgenerally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements. Assuch, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shadingconveys or indicates any preference or requirement for particularmaterials, material properties, dimensions, proportions, commonalitiesbetween illustrated elements, and/or any other characteristic,attribute, property, etc., of the elements, unless specified. Further,in the accompanying drawings, the size and relative sizes of elementsmay be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. When anexemplary embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific processorder may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order. Also, like reference numerals denote like elements.

When an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or“coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, connected to, orcoupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.When, however, an element is referred to as being “directly on,”“directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, thereare no intervening elements present. To this end, the term “connected”may refer to physical, electrical, and/or fluid connection. For thepurposes of this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at leastone selected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construedas X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y,and Z, such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, theterm “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, these elements should not be limited by theseterms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from anotherelement. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a secondelement without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “under,” “lower,”“above,” “upper,” “over,” “higher,” “side” (e.g., as in “sidewall”), andthe like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and, thereby, todescribe one element's relationship to another element(s) as illustratedin the drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of an apparatus in use, operation, and/ormanufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. Forexample, if the apparatus in the drawings is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would thenbe oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplaryterm “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below.Furthermore, the apparatus may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms“substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms, are used as terms ofapproximation and not as terms of degree, and, as such, are utilized toaccount for inherent deviations in measured, calculated, and/or providedvalues that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional and/or exploded illustrations that are schematic illustrationsof idealized exemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. Assuch, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions,but are to include deviations in shapes that result from, for instance,manufacturing. In this manner, regions illustrated in the drawings areschematic in nature and shapes of these regions may not illustrate theactual shapes of regions of a device, and, as such, are not intended tobe limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical member 100 and a light source400 according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectionalview taken along sectional line II-II′ of FIG. 1 according to someexemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical member 100 includes a lightguide plate 10, a first low refractive layer 20 disposed on the lightguide plate 10, a wavelength conversion layer 30 disposed on the firstlow refractive layer 20, and a passivation layer 40 disposed on thewavelength conversion layer 30. The light guide plate 10, the first lowrefractive layer 20, the wavelength conversion layer 30, and thepassivation layer 40 can be integrated with each other.

The light guide plate 10 serves to guide the path of light. The lightguide plate 10 may generally be shaped like a polygonal pillar. Thelight guide plate 10 may have, but is not limited to, a rectangularplanar shape. In some exemplary embodiments, the light guide plate 10may be shaped like a hexagonal pillar having a rectangular planar shapeand may include an upper surface 10 a, a lower surface 10 b, and fourside surfaces 10S (e.g., 10S1, 10S2, 10S3 and 10S4). When a side surfaceof the light guide plate 10 is to be distinguished from at least oneother side surface of the light guide plate 10 in this specification andthe accompanying drawings, the four side surfaces will be indicated by“10S1,” “10S2,” “10S3,” and “10S4.” However, when a side surface issimply mentioned, it will be indicated by “10S.”

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the upper surface 10 a and thelower surface 10 b of the light guide plate 10 may be located in oneplane, and the plane in which the upper surface 10 a is located and theplane in which the lower surface 10 b is located may be substantiallyparallel to each other. Therefore, the light guide plate 10 may have auniform thickness as a whole. However, the upper surface 10 a and/or thelower surface 10 b can be composed of a plurality of planes, or theplane in which the upper surface 10 a is located and the plane in whichthe lower surface 10 b is located can intersect each other. For example,the light guide plate 10, like a wedge-type light guide plate, maybecome thinner from a side surface (e.g., a light incidence surface)toward the other side surface (e.g., an opposite surface) facing theaforementioned side surface. Alternatively, the lower surface 10 b mayslope upward from a side surface (e.g., the light incidence surface) toa specific point toward the other side surface (e.g., the oppositesurface) facing the side surface such that the light guide plate 10becomes thinner, and then the upper surface 10 a and the lower surface10 b may be flat.

The plane in which the upper surface 10 a and/or the lower surface 10 bis located may be at an angle of about 90 degrees to the plane in whicheach side surface 10S is located. In some exemplary embodiments, asillustrated in FIG. 23, a light guide plate may further include aninclined edge surface 11 r between an upper surface 11 a and a sidesurface 11 s and/or between a lower surface 11 b and the side surface 11s. The edge surface 11 r will be described in detail later inassociation with FIG. 23, and a case where the upper surface 10 a and aside surface 10S meet directly without an edge surface to form an angleof 90 degrees will be described below.

In an exemplary embodiment of the optical member 100, the light source400 may be disposed adjacent to at least one side surface 10S of thelight guide plate 10. In the drawings, a plurality of light-emittingdiode (LED) light sources 410 mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB)420 are disposed adjacent to a side surface 10S1 at one long side of thelight guide plate 10. However, the inventive concepts are not limited tothis case. For example, the LED light sources 410 may be disposedadjacent to side surfaces 10S1 and 10S3 at both long sides, or may bedisposed adjacent to a side surface 10S2 or 10S4 at one short side, orthe side surfaces 10S2 and 10S4 at both short sides. In this manner, theLED light sources 410 may be disposed at least one of the side surfaces10S. As seen in FIG. 1, the side surface 10S1 at one long side of thelight guide plate 10 to which the light source 400 is adjacentlydisposed may be a light incidence surface (for ease of description,indicated by “10S1” in the drawings) on which light of the light source400 is directly incident, and the side surface 10S3 at the other longside which faces the side surface 10S1 may be an opposite side surface(for ease of description, indicated by “10S3” in the drawings).

Scattering patterns 70 may be disposed on the lower surface 10 b of thelight guide plate 10. The scattering patterns 70 change the angle oflight propagating in the light guide plate 10 through total reflection(e.g., total internal reflection) and output the light having thechanged angle to the outside of the light guide plate 10.

In some exemplary embodiments, the scattering patterns 70 may beprovided as a separate layer or separate patterns. For example, apattern layer including protruding patterns and/or concave groovepatterns may be formed on the lower surface 10 b of the light guideplate 10, or printed patterns may be formed on the lower surface 10 b ofthe light guide plate 10 to function as the scattering patterns 70.

In some exemplary embodiments, the scattering patterns 70 may be formedof the surface shape of the light guide plate 10 itself. For example,concave grooves may be formed in the lower surface 10 b of the lightguide plate 10 to function as the scattering patterns 70.

The arrangement density of the scattering patterns 70 may differdepending on an area of the light guide plate 10. For example, thearrangement density of the scattering patterns 70 may be lower in anarea adjacent to the light incidence surface 10S1 to which a relativelylarge amount of light is provided and may be higher in an area adjacentto the opposite surface 10S3 to which a relatively small amount of lightis provided.

The light guide plate 10 may include an inorganic material. For example,the light guide plate 10 may be made of, but is not limited to, glass.

The first low refractive layer 20 is disposed on the upper surface 10 aof the light guide plate 10. The first low refractive layer 20 may beformed directly on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10 tocontact the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10. The firstlow refractive layer 20 is interposed between the light guide plate 10and the wavelength conversion layer 30 to help total reflection of thelight guide plate 10.

For example, to efficiently guide light from the light incidence surface10S1 to the opposite surface 10S3, effective total internal reflectionshould occur on the upper surface 10 a and the lower surface 10 b of thelight guide plate 10. One of the conditions under which total internalreflection can occur in the light guide plate 10 is that a refractiveindex of the light guide plate 10 is greater than a refractive index ofa medium that forms an optical interface with the light guide plate 10.As the refractive index of the medium that forms the optical interfacewith the light guide plate 10 is lower, a total reflection criticalangle becomes smaller, leading to more total internal reflections.

In a case where the light guide plate 10 is made of glass having arefractive index of about 1.5, sufficient total reflection can occurbecause the lower surface 10 b of the light guide plate 10 is exposed toan air layer having a refractive index of about 1, and forms an opticalinterface with the air layer.

On the other hand, since other optical functional layers may beintegrally laminated on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate10, it is more difficult to achieve sufficient total reflection on theupper surface 10 a as compared with the lower surface 10 b. For example,if a material layer having a refractive index of 1.5 or more islaminated on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10, totalreflection cannot occur on the upper surface 10 a of the light guideplate 10. In addition, if a material layer having a refractive index of,for instance, about 1.49 slightly smaller than that of the light guideplate 10 is laminated on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate10, total internal reflection can occur on the upper surface 10 a of thelight guide plate 10, but sufficient total reflection cannot occur dueto a too large of a critical angle. The wavelength conversion layer 30laminated on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10typically has a refractive index of about 1.5. If this wavelengthconversion layer 30 is directly laminated on the upper surface 10 a ofthe light guide plate 10, it is relatively difficult to have sufficienttotal reflection on the upper surface 10 a of the substrate 10.

The first low refractive layer 20 interposed between the light guideplate 10 and the wavelength conversion layer 30 and forming an interfacewith the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10 has a refractiveindex lower than that of the light guide plate 10, so that totalreflection can occur on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate10. In addition, the first low refractive layer 20 has a refractiveindex lower than that of the wavelength conversion layer 30, which is amaterial layer disposed on the first low refractive layer 20, so thatmore total reflection can occur than when the wavelength conversionlayer 30 is disposed directly on the upper surface 10 a of the lightguide plate 10.

The difference between the refractive index of the light guide plate 10and the refractive index of the first low refractive layer 20 may be 0.2or more. When the refractive index of the first low refractive layer 20is smaller than the refractive index of the light guide plate 10 by 0.2or more, sufficient total reflection can be achieved at the uppersurface 10 a of the light guide plate 10. There is no upper limit on thedifference between the refractive index of the light guide plate 10 andthe refractive index of the first low refractive layer 20. However,considering typical materials of the light guide plate 10 and typicalrefractive indexes of the first low refractive layer 20, the differencebetween the refractive index of the light guide plate 10 and therefractive index of the first low refractive layer 20 may be 1 or less.

The refractive index of the first low refractive layer 20 may be in therange of 1.2 to 1.4. Generally, as the refractive index of a solidmedium becomes closer to 1, manufacturing cost exponentially increases.When the refractive index of the first low refractive layer 20 is 1.2 ormore, an excessive increase in the manufacturing cost can be preventedor at least reduced. In addition, the first low refractive layer 20having a refractive index of 1.4 or less is advantageous in sufficientlyreducing the total reflection critical angle of the upper surface 10 aof the light guide plate 10. In some exemplary embodiments, the firstlow refractive layer 20 having a refractive index of about 1.25 may beapplied.

To have the above-mentioned low refractive index, the first lowrefractive layer 20 may include voids. The voids may be held in vacuumor may be filled with an air layer, gas, or the like. In other words,the voids may have a negative, zero, or positive pressure. The spaces ofthe voids may be defined by particles or a matrix. FIGS. 3 and 4 will bereferred to for a more detailed description.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of low refractive layersaccording to various exemplary embodiments.

In some exemplary embodiments, a first low refractive layer 20 mayinclude a plurality of particles PT, a matrix MX surrounding theparticles PT and formed as a single piece, and a plurality of voids VD,as illustrated in FIG. 3. The particles PT may be a filler that adjuststhe refractive index and mechanical strength of the first low refractivelayer 20.

The particles PT may be dispersed within the matrix MX of the first lowrefractive layer 20, and the voids VD may be formed in open portions ofthe matrix MX. For example, after the particles PT and the matrix MX aremixed in a solvent, if the mixture is dried and/or cured, the solventmay evaporate. At this time, the void VD may be formed between portionsof the matrix MX.

In some exemplary embodiments, a first low refractive layer 20 mayinclude a matrix MX and voids VD without particles, as illustrated inFIG. 4. For example, the first low refractive layer 20 may include thematrix MX formed as a single piece like foam resin and a plurality ofvoids VD disposed in the matrix MX.

When the first refractive layer 20 includes the voids VD as illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 4, a total refractive index of the first low refractivelayer 20 may have a value between a refractive index of the particlesPT/the matrix MX and a refractive index of the voids VD. When the voidsVD are held in vacuum having a refractive index of 1 or an air layer orgas having a refractive index of about 1, even if a material having arefractive index of 1.4 or more is used as the particles PT/the matrixMX, the total refractive index of the first low refractive layer 20 mayhave a value of 1.4 or less, for example, about 1.25. In some exemplaryembodiments, the particles PT may be made of an inorganic material, suchas at least one of SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, and MgF₂, and the matrix MX may be madeof an organic material, such as polysiloxane. However, other organicmaterials and/or inorganic materials can be used.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first low refractive layer 20 mayhave a thickness of 0.4 μm to 2 μm. When the thickness of the first lowrefractive layer 20 is 0.4 μm or more, which is associated with avisible light wavelength range, the first low refractive layer 20 canform effective optical interface with the upper surface 10 a of thelight guide plate 10. As such, total reflection according to Snell's lawcan be achieved well at the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate10. When the first low refractive layer 20 is too thick, it may goagainst the thinning of the optical member 100, increase the materialcost, and undermine the luminance of the optical member 100. Therefore,the first low refractive layer 20 may be formed to a thickness of 2 μmor less. In some exemplary embodiments, the thickness of the first lowrefractive layer 20 may be about 0.5 μm.

The first low refractive layer 20 may cover most of the upper surface 10a of the light guide plate 10, but expose part of edges of the lightguide plate 10. In other words, the side surfaces 10S of the light guideplate 10 may protrude from side surfaces 20S of the first low refractivelayer 20. A portion of the upper surface 10 a, which is exposed by thefirst low refractive layer 20, provides a space where the side surfaces20S of the first low refractive layer 20 can be stably covered by thepassivation layer 40.

The first low refractive layer 20 may be formed by a method, such ascoating. For example, the first low refractive layer 20 may be formed bycoating a composition for forming a first low refractive layer on theupper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10, and drying and curingthe composition. Examples of the method of coating the composition forforming a first low refractive layer include slit coating, spin coating,roll coating, spray coating, and ink jet. However, the coating method isnot limited to the above examples, and various other methods (e.g.,lamination methods) can be applied.

The wavelength conversion layer 30 is disposed on an upper surface 20 aof the first low refractive layer 20. The wavelength conversion layer 30converts the wavelength of at least a portion of incident light. Thewavelength conversion layer 30 may include a binder layer and wavelengthconversion particles dispersed in the binder layer. The wavelengthconversion layer 30 may further include scattering particles dispersedin the binder layer in addition to the wavelength conversion particles.

The binder layer is a medium in which the wavelength conversionparticles are dispersed and may be made of various resin compositionsthat can be generally referred to as binders. However, the inventiveconcepts are not limited to this case, and any medium in which thewavelength conversion particles and/or the scattering particles can bedispersed can be referred to as the binder layer regardless of its name,additional functions, constituent materials, and the like.

The wavelength conversion particles are particles that convert thewavelength of incident light. For example, the wavelength conversionparticles may be at least one of quantum dots, a fluorescent material,and a phosphorescent material. For example, the quantum dots, which arean example of the wavelength conversion particles, are a material havinga crystal structure of several nanometers in size. The quantum dots maybe composed of several hundreds to thousands of atoms and exhibit aquantum confinement effect in which an energy band gap increases due tothe small size of the quantum dots. When light of a wavelength having ahigher energy than a band gap is incident on the quantum dots, thequantum dots are excited by absorbing the light and fall to a lowerstate (e.g., ground state) while emitting light of a specificwavelength. The emitted light of the specific wavelength has a valuecorresponding to the band gap. Emission characteristics of the quantumdots due to the quantum confinement effect can be adjusted bycontrolling the size and composition of the quantum dots.

The quantum dots may include at least one of a group II-VI compound, agroup II-V compound, a group III-VI compound, a group III-V compound, agroup IV-VI compound, a group I-III-VI compound, a group II-IV-VIcompound, and a group II-IV-V compound.

A quantum dot may include a core and a shell overcoating the core. Thecore may be, but is not limited to, at least one of CdS, CdSe, CdTe,ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, AIN, AlP, AlAs, AlSb, InP, InAs,InSb, SiC, Ca, Se, In, P, Fe, Pt, Ni, Co, Al, Ag, Au, Cu, FePt, Fe2O3,Fe3O4, Si, and Ge. The shell may include, but is not limited to, atleast one of ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, AIN,AlP, AlAs, AlSb, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, GaSe, InN, InP, InAs, InSb, TIN,TIP, TIAs, TISb, PbS, PbSe, and PbTe.

The wavelength conversion particles may include a plurality ofwavelength conversion particles that convert incident light intodifferent wavelengths. For example, the wavelength conversion particlesmay include first wavelength conversion particles that convert incidentlight of a specific wavelength into light of a first wavelength and emitthe light of the first wavelength, and second wavelength conversionparticles that convert incident light of a specific wavelength intolight of a second wavelength and emit the light of the secondwavelength. In some exemplary embodiments, light emitted from the lightsource 400 and then incident on the wavelength conversion particles maybe light of a blue wavelength, the first wavelength may be a greenwavelength, and the second wavelength may be a red wavelength. Forexample, the blue wavelength may be a wavelength having a peak at 420 to470 nm, the green wavelength may be a wavelength having a peak at 520 to570 nm, and the red wavelength may be a wavelength having a peak at 620to 670 nm. However, the blue, green, and red wavelengths are not limitedto the aforementioned examples, and include all wavelength rangesrecognized in the art as at least one of blue, green, and red.

According to some exemplary embodiments, when blue light incident on thewavelength conversion layer 30 passes through the wavelength conversionlayer 30, a portion of the blue light may be incident on the firstwavelength conversion particles to be converted into the greenwavelength and emitted accordingly, another portion of the blue lightmay be incident on the second wavelength conversion particles to beconverted into the red wavelength and emitted accordingly, and aremaining portion of the blue light may be emitted as it is withoutentering the first or second wavelength conversion particles. Therefore,light that passed through the wavelength conversion layer 30 includesall light of the blue wavelength, light of the green wavelength, andlight of the red wavelength. If a ratio of emitted light of differentwavelengths is appropriately adjusted, white light or outgoing light ofother colors can be displayed. Light converted by the wavelengthconversion layer 30 is concentrated in a narrow range of specificwavelengths and has a sharp spectrum with a narrow half width.Therefore, when the light of such a spectrum is filtered using a colorfilter to realize a color, color reproducibility can be improved.

Unlike as previously described, incident light can be light having ashort wavelength, such as ultraviolet light, and three types ofwavelength conversion particles for converting the incident light intothe blue, green, and red wavelengths can be disposed in the wavelengthconversion layer 30 to emit, for example, white light.

The wavelength conversion layer 30 may further include scatteringparticles. The scattering particles may be non-quantum dot particles andhave no wavelength conversion function. The scattering particles mayscatter incident light to cause more incident light to enter thewavelength conversion particles. In addition, the scattering particlesmay uniformly control an output angle of light for each wavelength. Forexample, when a portion of incident light that enters the wavelengthconversion particles is emitted after its wavelength is converted by thewavelength conversion particles, the emission direction of the portionof the incident light has random scattering characteristics. If thereare no scattering particles in the wavelength conversion layer 30, thegreen and red wavelengths emitted after colliding with the wavelengthconversion particles may have scattering emission characteristics, butthe blue wavelength emitted without colliding with the wavelengthconversion particles may not have the scattering emissioncharacteristics. Therefore, the emission amount of the blue/green/redwavelength will vary according to output angle. The scattering particlesmay give the scattering emission characteristics even to the bluewavelength emitted without colliding with the wavelength conversionparticles, thereby controlling the output angle of light for eachwavelength to be similar. The scattering particles may be, for instance,at least one of TiO₂ and SiO₂.

The wavelength conversion layer 30 may be thicker than the first lowrefractive layer 20. The thickness of the wavelength conversion layer 30may be about 10 to 50 μm, e.g., 20 μm to 40 μm, such as 10 μm to 30 μm,for example, 20 μm to 50 μm. In some exemplary embodiments, thethickness of the wavelength conversion layer 30 may be about 15 μm.

The wavelength conversion layer 30 may cover the upper surface 20 a ofthe first low refractive layer 20 and may completely overlap the firstlow refractive layer 20. However, the inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. A lower surface 30 b of the wavelength conversion layer 30 maydirectly contact the upper surface 20 a of the first low refractivelayer 20. In some exemplary embodiments, side surfaces 30S of thewavelength conversion layer 30 may be aligned with side surfaces 20S ofthe first low refractive layer 20. An inclination angle of each sidesurface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30 may be smaller than aninclination angle of each side surface 20S of the first low refractivelayer 20. When the wavelength conversion layer 30 is formed by a method,such as slit coating as will be described later, the side surfaces 30Sof the relatively thick wavelength conversion layer 30 may have agentler inclination angle than e side surfaces 20S of the first lowrefractive layer 20. However, the inventive concepts are not limited tothis case. Depending on the formation method, the inclination angle ofeach side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30 may besubstantially equal to or smaller than the inclination angle of eachside surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20.

The wavelength conversion layer 30 may be formed by a method, such ascoating. For example, the wavelength conversion layer 30 may be formedby slit-coating a wavelength conversion composition on the light guideplate 10 having the first low refractive layer 20, and drying and curingthe wavelength conversion composition. However, the method of formingthe wavelength conversion layer 30 is not limited to the above example,and various other methods (e.g., coating methods, lamination methods,etc.) can be applied.

The passivation layer 40 is disposed on the first low refractive layer20 and the wavelength conversion layer 30. The passivation layer 40serves to prevent (or at least reduce) the penetration of moistureand/or oxygen (hereinafter, referred to as “moisture/oxygen”). Thepassivation layer 40 may include an inorganic material, such as at leastone of silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, zirconium nitride, titaniumnitride, hafnium nitride, tantalum nitride, silicon oxide, aluminumoxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, cerium oxide, silicon oxynitride, anda metal thin film having a secured light transmittance. In someexemplary embodiments, the passivation layer 40 may be made of siliconnitride.

The passivation layer 40 may completely cover the first low refractivelayer 20 and the wavelength conversion layer 30 on at least one side. Insome exemplary embodiments, the passivation layer 40 may completelycover the first low refractive layer 20 and the wavelength conversionlayer 30 on all sides, or all sides not covered by the light guide plate10.

The passivation layer 40 completely overlaps the wavelength conversionlayer 30, covers an upper surface 30 a of the wavelength conversionlayer 30, and extends further outward to cover the side surfaces 30S ofthe wavelength conversion layer 30 and the side surfaces 20S of thefirst low refractive layer 20. The passivation layer 40 may contact theupper surface 30 a and the side surfaces 30S of the wavelengthconversion layer 30 and the side surfaces 20S of the first lowrefractive layer 20. The passivation layer 40 may extend up to the uppersurface 10 a at the edges of the light guide plate 10 exposed by thefirst low refractive layer 20 such that part of edge portions of thepassivation layer 40 can directly contact the upper surface 10 a of thelight guide plate 10. In some exemplary embodiments, side surfaces 40Sof the passivation layer 40 may be aligned with the side surfaces 10S ofthe light guide plate 10. An inclination angle of each side surface 40Sof the passivation layer 40 may be larger than the inclination angle ofeach side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30. Further,the inclination angle of each side surface 40S of the passivation layer40 may be larger than the inclination angle of each side surface 20S ofthe first low refractive layer 20.

A thickness of the passivation layer 40 may be smaller than that of thewavelength conversion layer 30 and may be similar to or smaller thanthat of the first low refractive layer 20. The thickness of thepassivation layer 40 may be 0.1 μm to 2 μm. If the thickness of thepassivation layer 40 is 0.1 μm or more, the passivation layer 40 canhave a significant moisture/oxygen penetration preventing (or at eastreducing) function. If the thickness is 0.3 μm or more, the passivationlayer 40 can have an effective moisture/oxygen penetration preventingfunction. The passivation layer 40 having a thickness of 2 μm or less isadvantageous in terms of thinning and transmittance. In some exemplaryembodiments, the thickness of the passivation layer 40 may be about 0.4μm.

The wavelength conversion layer 30, particularly the wavelengthconversion particles included in the wavelength conversion layer 30, isvulnerable to moisture/oxygen. In the case of a wavelength conversionfilm, a barrier film is typically laminated on upper and lower surfacesof a wavelength conversion layer to prevent the penetration ofwater/oxygen into the wavelength conversion layer. According to variousexemplary embodiments, however, the wavelength conversion layer 30 isdirectly disposed without a barrier film. Therefore, a sealing structurefor protecting the wavelength conversion layer 30 instead of the barrierfilm is utilized. The sealing structure may be realized by thepassivation layer 40 and the light guide plate 10.

A gate through which moisture can penetrate into the wavelengthconversion layer 30 is the upper surface 30 a, the side surfaces 30S,and the lower surface 30 b of the wavelength conversion layer 30. Asdescribed above, since the upper surface 30 a and the side surfaces 30Sof the wavelength conversion layer 30 are covered and protected by thepassivation layer 40, the penetration of moisture/oxygen penetration canbe blocked or at least reduced (hereinafter, referred to as“blocked/reduced”).

The lower surface 30 b of the wavelength conversion layer 30 is incontact with the upper surface 20 a of the first low refractive layer20. If the first low refractive layer 20 includes the voids VD or ismade of an organic material, the movement of moisture in the first lowrefractive layer 20 is possible. Therefore, moisture/oxygen can beintroduced to the lower surface 30 b of the wavelength conversion layer30 through the first low refractive layer 20. However, since the firstlow refractive layer 20 also has a sealing structure, according tovarious exemplary embodiments, the penetration of moisture/oxygenthrough the lower surface 30 b of the wavelength conversion layer 30 canbe blocked/reduced.

For example, since the side surfaces 20S of the first low refractivelayer 20 are covered and protected by the passivation layer 40, thepenetration of moisture/oxygen through the side surfaces 20S of thefirst low refractive layer 20 can be blocked/reduced. Even if the firstlow refractive layer 20 protrudes further than the wavelength conversionlayer 30 so that a portion of the upper surface 20 a is exposed, sincethe protruding portion is covered and protected by the passivation layer40, the penetration of moisture/oxygen through the protruding portioncan be blocked/reduced. A lower surface 20 b of the first low refractivelayer 20 is in contact with the light guide plate 10. When the lightguide plate 10 is made of an inorganic material such as glass, it canblock/reduce the penetration of moisture/oxygen, like the passivationlayer 40. That is, since the surfaces of a laminate of the first lowrefractive layer 20 and the wavelength conversion layer 30 aresurrounded and sealed by the passivation layer 40 and the light guideplate 10, even if a moisture/oxygen movement path is formed inside thefirst refractive layer 20, the penetration of moisture/oxygen can beblocked/reduced by the above sealing structure. Therefore, deteriorationof the wavelength conversion particles due to moisture/oxygen can beprevented or at least mitigated.

The passivation layer 40 may be formed by a method, such as vapordeposition. For example, the passivation layer 40 may be formed on thelight guide plate 10, on which the first low refractive layer 20 and thewavelength conversion layer 30 are sequentially formed, by chemicalvapor deposition. However, the method of forming the passivation layer40 is not limited to the above example, and various other methods can beapplied.

As described above, the optical member 100, which is an integratedsingle member, can simultaneously perform a light guide function and awavelength conversion function. The integrated single member cansimplify the process of assembling a display device. In addition, theoptical member 100 allows total reflection to be performed effectivelyon the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10 because the firstlow refractive layer 20 is disposed on the upper surface 10 a of thelight guide plate 10. Also, since the first low refractive layer 20 andthe wavelength conversion layer 30 are sealed with the passivation layer40, deterioration of the wavelength conversion layer 30 can be preventedor least mitigated.

Furthermore, the wavelength conversion layer 30 and the sealingstructure of the optical member 100 can reduce the manufacturing costand thickness as compared with a wavelength conversion film provided asa separate film. For example, the wavelength conversion film includes abarrier film attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the wavelengthconversion layer. Here, the barrier film is not only expensive, but alsohas a large thickness of 100 μm or more. Therefore, the total thicknessof the wavelength conversion film is about 270 μm. On the other hand, inthe case of the optical member 100 according to various exemplaryembodiments, the first low refractive layer 20 can be formed to athickness of about 0.5 μm, and the passivation layer 40 can be formed toa thickness of about 0.4 μm. Therefore, the total thickness excludingthe thickness of the light guide plate 10 can be maintained at about 16μm. Accordingly, the thickness of a display device employing the opticalmember 100 can be reduced. Also, since the optical member 100 can omitthe expensive barrier film, the manufacturing cost can be controlled toa level lower than that of a conventional wavelength conversion filmstructure.

Hereinafter, optical members according to various other and/oradditional embodiments will be described. In the following embodiments,a description of components identical to those of the above-describedembodiments will be omitted or given briefly, and differences from theabove-described embodiments will be mainly described. To this end,similarly referenced components may be similarly configured apart fromdifferences described herein. Although some of the following drawingsshow the arrangement/alignment relationship on one side of an opticalmember, the same structure can be applied to a plurality of sides or allsides, and various side structures can be applied in combination. Eachstructure can be obtained intentionally, but can also be unintentionallyobtained in the manufacturing process.

FIGS. 5 through 8 are cross-sectional views of optical members 101through 104 according to various exemplary embodiments. The exemplaryembodiments of FIGS. 5 through 8 demonstrate that the arrangement andalignment relationship of components of an optical member can bevariously modified.

In FIG. 5, a case where a passivation layer 40_1 of the optical member101 covers not the entire upper surface 10 a of a light guide plate 10exposed by a first low refractive layer 20 is illustrated. That is,unlike in FIG. 2, a side surface 40S of the passivation layer 40 may notbe aligned with a side surface 10S of the light guide plate 10, but maybe located inside the side surface 10S of the light guide plate 10. Sucha structure can be formed when a deposition process for forming thepassivation layer 40_1 is performed with a certain margin from the sidesurface 10S of the light guide plate 10 in order to prevent apassivation material from being deposited on the side surface 10S of thelight guide plate 10. Even in this case, a sealing structure can bemaintained as long as the passivation layer 40_1 covers both awavelength conversion layer 30 and the first low refractive layer 20.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a case where a side surface 20S of a first lowrefractive layer 20 of the optical member 102 or 103 is not aligned witha side surface 30S of a wavelength conversion layer 30_2 or 30_3 isillustrated.

For example, referring to FIG. 6, the side surface 30S of the wavelengthconversion layer 30_2 of the optical member 102 may be disposed insidethe side surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20. That is, theside surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20 may protrudefurther outward than the side surface 30S of the wavelength conversionlayer 30_2. Such a structure can be obtained when the wavelengthconversion layer 30_2 is formed with a certain margin from the sidesurface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20 such that thewavelength conversion layer 30_2 can be stably disposed on the first lowrefractive layer 20 for improving total reflection efficiency. Even inthis case, a sealing structure can be maintained because a passivationlayer 40_2 covers both the wavelength conversion layer 30 and the firstlow refractive layer 20. It is noted, however, that the passivationlayer 40_2 includes an additional step in an outer side portion due tothe protrusion of the side surface 20S of the first low refractive layer20 beyond the side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30_2.

In another example, referring to FIG. 7, the side surface 30S of thewavelength conversion layer 30_3 of the optical member 103 may protrudefurther outward than the side surface 20S of the first low refractivelayer 20. The wavelength conversion layer 30_3 protruding outward maycover the side surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20 versus apassivation layer 40_3, and a portion of the wavelength conversion layer30_3 may directly contact an upper surface 10 a of a light guide plate10. Even in this case, since the passivation layer 40_3 covers the sidesurface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30_3 and a protrudingportion of a lower surface 30 b of the wavelength conversion layer 30_3is protected by the light guide plate 10, a sealing structure can bemaintained. According to the structure illustrated in FIG. 7, totalreflection may not occur well at an edge portion of the optical member103 where the wavelength conversion layer 30_3 directly contacts theupper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10. However, this exemplaryembodiment can be useful when the luminance of the edge portion is to beparticularly high or when a light transmission blocking pattern (see,e.g., components 60 through 66 in FIGS. 17 through 23) or a lightshielding member is applied to the edge portion of an optical member.

In FIG. 8, a case where a side surface 40S_4 of a passivation layer 40_4of the optical member 104 protrudes further outward than a side surface10S of a light guide plate 10 is illustrated. For example, referring toFIG. 8, a side surface 20S of a first low refractive layer 20_4 may bealigned with the side surface 10S of the light guide plate 10, and thepassivation layer 40_4 may extend further outward than the side surface20S of the first low refractive layer 20_4 to cover the side surface 20Sof the first low refractive layer 20_4. In some exemplary embodiments,the passivation layer 40_4 may cover up to part of the side surface 10Sof the light guide plate 10. Even in this case, a sealing structure canbe maintained as long as the passivation layer 40_4 covers both awavelength conversion layer 30_4 and the first low refractive layer20_4. The structure illustrated in FIG. 8 may be advantageous inmaximizing the effective light guide area of the light guide plate 10.Although not illustrated, the passivation layer 40_4 can protrudefurther outward than the side surface 10S of the light guide plate 10even when the first low refractive layer 20_4 is located further inwardsthan the side surface 10S of the light guide plate 10, as illustrated inFIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member 105 according toan embodiment.

The optical member 105 is different from the structure illustrated inFIG. 2 in that the optical member 105 further includes a barrier layer50 disposed on an upper surface 10 a of a light guide plate 10. From theperspective of the arrangement of components, the upper surface 10 a ofthe light guide plate 10 of FIG. 2 may be replaced with an upper surface50 a of the barrier layer 50 in FIG. 9. For example, the barrier layer50 is disposed on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10,and a first low refractive layer 20, a wavelength conversion layer 30,and a passivation layer 40 are sequentially laminated on the barrierlayer 50. The barrier layer 50 may cover the entire upper surface 10 aof the light guide plate 10. A side surface 50S of the barrier layer 50may be aligned with a side surface 10S of the light guide plate 10.

The first low refractive layer 20 is in contact with the upper surface50 a of the barrier layer 50. The first low refractive layer 20 maypartially expose an edge portion of the barrier layer 50. The wavelengthconversion layer 30 is disposed on the first low refractive layer 20,and the passivation layer 40 completely covers the first low refractivelayer 20 and the wavelength conversion layer 30. The passivation layer40 completely overlaps the wavelength conversion layer 30 and extendsfurther outward from the wavelength conversion layer 30 to cover a sidesurface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30 and a side surface 20Sof the first low refractive layer 20. The passivation layer 40 extendsto the upper surface 50 a of the edge portion of the barrier layer 50exposed by the first low refractive layer 20. Therefore, part of an edgeportion of the passivation layer 40 may contact the upper surface 50 aof the barrier layer 50.

Like the passivation layer 40, the barrier layer 50 serves to prevent(or at least reduce) the penetration of moisture/oxygen. The barrierlayer 50 may include an inorganic material. For example, the barrierlayer 50 may be made of at least one of silicon nitride, aluminumnitride, zirconium nitride, titanium nitride, hafnium nitride, tantalumnitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide,cerium oxide, silicon oxynitride, and a metal thin film having securedlight transmittance. The barrier layer 50 may be made of, but is notlimited to, the same material as the passivation layer 40. The barrierlayer 50 may be formed by a deposition method, such as chemical vapordeposition.

A thickness of the barrier layer 50 may be similar to that of thepassivation layer 40. For example, the barrier layer 50 may have athickness of 0.1 μm to 2 μm.

A refractive index of the barrier layer 50 may be substantially the sameas a refractive index of the light guide plate 10 in order for smoothlight guide function of the optical member 105. However, the refractiveindex of the barrier layer 50 may also be different from the refractiveindex of the light guide plate 10.

For example, if the refractive index of the barrier layer 50 is equal tothe refractive index of the light guide plate 10, a boundary between thelight guide plate 10 and the barrier layer 50 is not recognized as aninterface with respect to the propagation of incident light. Therefore,the direction of light entering the boundary is not changed.Accordingly, the light guide plate 10 and the barrier layer 50 togethercan perform substantially the same light guide function as the lightguide plate 10 of FIG. 2.

If the refractive index of the barrier layer 50 is greater than therefractive index of the light guide plate 10, an output angle becomessmaller at the interface. However, since the difference in refractiveindex between the barrier layer 50 and the first low refractive layer 20becomes larger, effective total reflection can occur at an interfacebetween the barrier layer 50 and the first low refractive layer 20.

If the refractive index of the barrier layer 50 is smaller than therefractive index of the light guide plate 10, the output angle becomeslarger, and some light is totally reflected at the interface. Therefore,the overall total reflection efficiency can be maintained.

In another way of maintaining light guide characteristics similar tothose described in association with FIG. 2, the thickness of the barrierlayer 50 may be formed to be smaller than a length of a visible lightwavelength. For example, when the thickness of the barrier layer 50 isset to 0.4 μm or less, for example, set in the range of 0.1 μm to 0.4μm, an effective optical interface may not be formed between the lightguide plate 10 and the barrier layer 50 and between the barrier layer 50and the first low refractive layer 20. Therefore, the same light guidecharacteristics as those described in association with FIG. 2 can beexhibited irrespective of the refractive index of the barrier layer 50.Considering the moisture/oxygen penetration preventing performance aswell, the thickness of the barrier layer 50 may be in the range of 0.3μm to 0.4 μm.

As described above, according to the structure of FIG. 9, the sealingstructure of the wavelength conversion layer 30 can be realized by thepassivation layer 40 and the barrier layer 50. Therefore, even if thewater/oxygen penetration preventing function of the light guide plate 10is not sufficient, the penetration of moisture/oxygen can be effectivelyprevented by the barrier layer 50. From this point of view, the degreeof freedom in selecting the constituent material(s) of the light guideplate 10 can be increased. For example, even if the light guide plate 10is made of polymer resin, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) orpolycarbonate (PC), or acrylic resin instead of an inorganic material,such as glass, the penetration of moisture/oxygen can be prevented bythe barrier layer 50, which, in turn, prevents deterioration of thewavelength conversion layer 30.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member 106 according tosome exemplary embodiments.

In FIG. 10. a case where a barrier layer 50_6 of the optical member 106does not cover the entire upper surface 10 a of a light guide plate 10is illustrated. That is, unlike as seen in FIG. 9, a side surface 50S ofthe barrier layer 50_6 may not be aligned with a side surface 10S of thelight guide plate 10, but may be located inside the side surface 10S ofthe light guide plate 10. The barrier layer 50_6 exposes an edge portionof the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10. A side surface20S of a first low refractive layer 20 may be aligned with the sidesurface 50S of the barrier layer 50_6 or located inside the side surface50S of the barrier layer 50_6. That is, the side surface 20S of thefirst low refractive layer 20 may not protrude further than the sidesurface 50S of the harrier layer 50_6.

A passivation layer 40_6 completely overlaps a wavelength conversionlayer 30 and extends further outward from the, wavelength conversionlayer 30 to cover a side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer30 and the side surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20. Inaddition, the passivation layer 40_6 may cover an upper surface 50 a ofthe barrier layer 50_6 exposed by the first low refractive layer 20. Inthis manner, the passivation layer 40_6 may include an additional stepportion due to the extension of the barrier layer 50_6 beyond the sidesurface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20. Furthermore, thepassivation layer 40_6 may extend up to the upper surface 10 a of thelight guide plate 10 exposed by the barrier layer 50_6.

Although the barrier layer 50_6 does not cover the entire upper surface10 a of the light guide plate 10, the, barrier layer 50_6 contacts thepassivation layer 40_6 at an edge portion of the optical member 106,thereby maintaining the overall sealing structure. Therefore, the degreeof freedom in selecting the constituent material(s) of the light guideplate 10 can be increased similar to as described in association withFIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 through 13 are cross-sectional views of optical members 107through 109 according to various exemplary embodiments. In FIGS. 11through 13, a case where a barrier layer 50_7, 50_8, or 50_9 of anoptical member 107, 108 or 109 is formed on a first low refractive layer20, 20_8, or 20_9 is illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 11, the first low refractive layer 20 is disposed onan upper surface 10 a of a light guide plate 10 of the optical member107. The first low refractive layer 20 covers most of the upper surface10 a of the light guide plate 10, but may expose part of an edge of thelight guide plate 10.

The barrier layer 50_7 is disposed on an upper surface 20 a of the firstlow refractive layer 20. The barrier layer 50_7 completely covers thefirst low refractive layer 20. The barrier layer 50_7 may extend up tothe upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10 exposed by the firstlow refractive layer 20.

A wavelength conversion layer 30 is disposed on an upper surface 50 a ofthe barrier layer 50_7. The wavelength conversion layer 30 exposes anedge of the barrier layer 50_7, and a side surface 30S of the wavelengthconversion layer 30 may he aligned with a side surface 20S of the firstlow refractive layer 20 or located further inwards than the side surface20S of the first low refractive layer 20. That is, the side surface 30Sof the wavelength conversion layer 30 may not protrude further than theside surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20.

A passivation layer 40 is disposed on the wavelength conversion layer30. The passivation layer 40 may cover an upper surface 30 a and theside surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30 and extendoutward to contact an exposed portion of the upper surface 50 a of thebarrier layer 50_7.

Although a side surface 50S of the barrier layer 50_7 and a side surface40S of the passivation layer 40 are all aligned with a side surface 10Sof the light guide plate 10 in the drawing, at least one of the sidesurface 50S of the barrier layer 50_7 and the side surface 40S of thepassivation layer 40 may be located further inwards than the sidesurface 10S of the light guide plate 10.

Referring to FIG. 12, the optical member 108 is different from theoptical member 107 of FIG. 11 in that the first low refractive layer20_8 is not completely covered by the barrier layer 50_8, but a portionof the first low refractive layer 20_8 is covered by a passivation layer40_8. For instance, the barrier layer 50_8 is disposed on an uppersurface 20 a of the first low refractive layer 20_8 to expose a sidesurface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20_8. A side surface 50Sof the barrier layer 50_8 may be aligned with the side surface 20S ofthe first low refractive layer 20_8 or located further inwards than theside surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20_8. That is, theside surface 50S of the barrier layer 50_8 may not protrude further thanthe side surface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20_8.

A wavelength conversion layer 30 is disposed on an upper surface 50 a ofthe barrier layer 50_8, and the passivation layer 40_8 is disposed onthe wavelength conversion layer 30. A side surface 30S of the wavelengthconversion layer 30 is aligned with the side surface 50S of the barrierlayer 50_8 or located inside the side surface 50S of the barrier layer50_8. That is, the side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer30 may not protrude further than the side surface 50S of the, barrierlayer 50_8. The passivation layer 40_8 covers an upper surface 30 a andthe side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30. Thepassivation layer 40_8 may extend outward to cover the side surface 50Sof the barrier layer 50_8 and the exposed side surface 20S of the firstlow refractive layer 20_8 and also to contact an upper surface 10 a of alight guide plate 10. In this manner, the passivation layer 40_8 has astep configuration due to the side surface 50S of the barrier layer 50_8and the side surface of the first low refractive layer 20_8.

Referring to FIG. 13, the optical member 109 is different from theoptical members 107 and 108 of FIGS. 11 and 12 in that the first lowrefractive layer 20_9 is not completely covered by the barrier layer50_9 and a passivation layer 40_9. For instance, the first lowrefractive layer 20_9 is disposed on an upper surface 10 a of a lightguide plate 10, and the barrier layer 50_9 is disposed on an uppersurface 20 a. of the first low refractive layer 20_9 to expose at leasta side surface 205 of the low refractive layer 20_9. A side surface 505of the barrier layer 50_9 may be aligned with a side surface 20S of thefirst low refractive layer 20_9 or located inside the side surface 20Sof the first low refractive layer 20_9.

A wavelength conversion layer 30 is disposed on an upper surface 50 a ofthe barrier layer 50_9, and the passivation layer 40_9 is disposed onthe wavelength conversion layer 30. A side surface 30S of the wavelengthconversion layer 30 is aligned with the side surface 50S of the barrierlayer 50_9 or located inside the side surface 50S of the barrier layer50_9. That is, the side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer30 may not protrude further than the side surface 50S of the barrierlayer 50_9. The passivation layer 40_9 covers an upper surface 30 a andthe side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30. Thepassivation layer 40_9 extends outward to contact the upper surface 50 aof the harrier layer 50_9. A side surface 40S of the passivation layer40_9 may be aligned with the side surface 20S of the first lowrefractive layer 20_9 or located inside the side surface 20S of thefirst low refractive layer 20_9. To this end, the passivation layer 40_9has a step configuration due to the side surface 50S of the barrierlayer 50_9.

As seen in FIGS. 11 through 13, the first low refractive layer 20, 20_8,or 20_9 is disposed on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate10 so that effective total reflection can occur on the upper surface 10a of the light guide plate 10. In addition, since the upper surface 30a, the side surface 30S, and the lower surface 30 b of the wavelengthconversion layer 30 are all sealed with the barrier layer 50_7, 50_8, or50_9 and the passivation layer 40, 40_8, or 40_9, deterioration of thewavelength conversion layer 30 can be prevented. Even if the sidesurface 20S of the first low refractive layer 20, 20_8, or 20_9 isexposed without being covered by the barrier layer 50_7, 50_8, or 50_9or the passivation layer 40, 40_8, or 40_9 (as in the structure of FIG.13), the sealing structure of the wavelength conversion layer 30 can bemaintained.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member 110 according tosome exemplary embodiments. In FIG. 14, a passivation layer 41 mayconsist of a plurality of films. While the passivation layer 41 consistsof three films in FIG. 14, it can consist of two films or four or morefilms.

Referring to FIG. 14, the passivation layer 41 of the optical member 110includes a first passivation film 41_1, a second passivation film 41_2,and a third passivation film 41_3 which are sequentially laminated. Thefirst through third passivation films 41_1 through 41_3 may all beinorganic films, or some of the first through third passivation films41_1 through 41_3 may be organic films. For example, the firstpassivation film 41_1 contacting a wavelength conversion layer 30 may bean inorganic film, the second passivation film 41_2 located on the firstpassivation film 41_1 may be an organic film, and the third passivationfilm 41_3 may be an inorganic film. If more films are laminated, aninorganic film and an organic film may be alternately arranged.

The inorganic film may include, for example, at least one of siliconnitride, aluminum nitride, zirconium nitride, titanium nitride, hafniumnitride, tantalum nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titaniumoxide, tin oxide, cerium oxide, silicon oxynitride, and a metal thinfilm having secured light transmittance. When the passivation layer 41includes a plurality of inorganic films, the constituent materials ofthe inorganic films may be, but are not necessarily, the same. Theorganic layer may include at least one of a silicone resin, an acrylicresin, and an epoxy resin.

Respective side surfaces of the first through third passivation films41_1 through 41_3 may be aligned with each other, or any one of the sidesurfaces may protrude further than the other side surfaces. In someexemplary embodiments, the side surface of the second passivation film41_2 disposed in the middle of the stack structure may be locatedrelatively inward, and the first passivation film 41_1 and the thirdpassivation film 41_3 may protrude from the side surface of the secondpassivation film 41_2 to contact each other. In this case, the secondpassivation film 41_2 is completely surrounded by the first and thirdpassivation films 41_1 and 41_3. In this structure, if the secondpassivation film 41_2 is an organic film and the first and thirdpassivation films 41_1 and 41_3 are inorganic films, the organic film iscompletely sealed by the inorganic films, while the first passivationfilm 41_1 and the third passivation film 41_3, which are the inorganicfilms, are made to contact each other. Therefore, this structure may beadvantageous in increasing the adhesion between the films of thepassivation layer 41.

Although not illustrated, a barrier layer, such as one of the barrierlayers of FIGS. 9 through 13, may be utilized in the optical member 110,and may have a single layer or multilayer structure.

FIG. 15a is a cross-sectional view of an optical member 111 according tosome exemplary embodiments.

As seen in FIG. 15 a, a side surface 205 of a low refractive layer 20_11and/or a side surface 30S of a wavelength conversion layer 30_11 may beexposed without being covered by a passivation layer 40_11. Referring toFIG. 15 a, a side surface 10S of a light guide plate 10, the sidesurface 20S of the low refractive layer 20_11, the side surface 30S ofthe wavelength conversion layer 30_11, and a side surfaces 40S of thepassivation layer 40_11 may all be aligned at at least one side surfaceof the optical member 111. Each side surface 10S, 20S, 30S or 40S of theoptical member 111 may be a cut surface. This structure may be obtained,for example, when the optical member of FIG. 1 is used as a motheroptical member and is cut into individual optical members, as willbecome more apparent below.

FIG. 15b is a perspective view of a mother optical member cut intoquarters. Referring to FIG. 15 b, the mother optical member is prepared.The mother optical member has substantially the same structure andappearance as the optical member illustrated in FIG. 1, but thearrangement of scattering patterns 70_12 may be different. In otherwords, the arrangement density of the scattering patterns 70_12 of themother optical member is not uniformly increased from one side surfacetoward the other side surface. Instead, the arrangement of thescattering patterns 70_12 in each cell area may be adjusted inconsideration of the light incidence surface and the opposite surface ofeach individual optical member when the mother optical member is to cut.

When the prepared mother optical member is cut into a cross shape, fourindividual optical members are obtained such that each optical memberincludes a low refractive layer 20_12, a wavelength conversion layer30_12, and a passivation layer 40_12. In FIG. 15 b, each individualoptical member has two cut side surfaces and two uncut side surfaces.The two uncut side surfaces may have the same structure (e.g., the sidesurface structure of FIG. 2) as the original side surfaces of the motheroptical member, while the two cut side surfaces have the side surfacesillustrated in FIG. 15 a.

In FIG. 15 b, a case where the mother optical member is cut into fourseparate optical members is illustrated. However, it is also possible toobtain two individual optical members by cutting the mother opticalmember only in one direction. In this case, three side surfaces of eachindividual optical member may be uncut side surfaces having the sidesurface structure of FIG. 2, while one side surface is a cut surfacehaving the side surface structure of FIG. 15 a.

In FIG. 15 a, since the side surface 20S of the low refractive layer20_11 and the side surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30_11are exposed without being covered by the passivation layer 40_11 at atleast one side surface of the optical member 111, the penetration ofmoisture/oxygen through the at least one side surface is possible. Inthis case, even if the wavelength conversion layer 30_11 is likely todeteriorate at the least one side surface, if other moisture/oxygenblocking structures are disposed at the at least one side surface or ifprocess efficiency is given priority despite the deterioration of thewavelength conversion layer 30_11 in some edge areas, the structure ofFIG. 15a may be applied to some side surfaces of the optical member 111.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member 112 according tosome exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 16, the optical member 112 is different from theoptical member 111 of FIG. 15A in that it further includes a protectivefilm 90 covering a side of the optical member 112. The protective film90 may cover an exposed side surface 30S of a wavelength conversionlayer 30_11 and an exposed side surface 20S of a low refractive layer20_11. Also, the protective film 90 may cover a side surface 40S of apassivation layer 40_11 and/or a side surface 10S of a light guide plate10. That is, the protective film 90 may cover the entire side of theoptical member 112.

In some exemplary embodiments, the protective film 90, like thepassivation layer 40, may be made of an inorganic material. For example,the protective film 90 may include at least one of silicon nitride,aluminum nitride, zirconium nitride, titanium nitride, hafnium nitride,tantalum nitride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tinoxide, cerium oxide, silicon oxynitride, and a metal thin film havingsecured light transmittance. In some exemplary embodiments, theprotective film 90 may be made of silicon nitride. The protective film90 may be formed by, for example, cutting the optical member of FIG. 1and then depositing an inorganic material on a corresponding cutsurface.

In some exemplary embodiments, a barrier film or a sealing tape may beapplied as the protective film 90. In this case, the protective film 90may be selectively attached only to a desired portion, for example, theside surface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30_11 and the sidesurface 20S of the low refractive layer 20_11.

As seen in FIG. 16, the exposed side surface 30S of the wavelengthconversion layer 30_11 and the exposed side surface 20S of the lowrefraction layer 20_11 are covered with the protective film 90 tomaintain a sealing structure. Therefore, even when four sides of theoptical member 112 are all cut surfaces and the side surfaces 10S, 20S,30S and 40S of the optical member 112 are aligned with each other, theoverall sealing structure can be maintained by placing the protectivefilm 90 on each of the exposed sides.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are cross-sectional views of optical members 113 and 114according to embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the optical members 113 and 114 aredifferent from the optical member 100 of FIG. 2 in that they furtherinclude light transmission blocking patterns 60 and 61. The lighttransmission blocking patterns 60 and 61 absorb or reflect incidentlight to partially or completely block the transmission of light in acorresponding area. The light transmittance of each of the lighttransmission blocking patterns 60 and 61 is lower than that of anadjacent first low refractive layer 20_13.

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the light transmission blockingpatterns 60 and 61 may include a reflective layer. The reflective layermay include a light reflecting material having high reflectance, such asa metal. In another example, the reflective layer, like a reflectivepolarizing film, may have a structure in which a plurality of layershaving different refractive indices are laminated. The reflective layermay be directly deposited or coated on an upper surface 10 a of a lightguide plate 10. In another example, a separate member including areflective layer may be attached through an adhesive layer.

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the light transmission blockingpatterns 60 and 61 may include a light absorbing layer. The lightabsorbing layer may include a light absorbing material, such as a blackpigment or a dye. The light absorbing layer may be directly coated onthe upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10 or may be attachedthrough an adhesive layer.

Each of the light transmission blocking patterns 60 and 61 is disposedat edge portions of the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10.The amount of light output from the upper surface 10 a of the lightguide plate 10 may differ from area to area. For example, near a lightincidence surface 10S1, a relatively large amount of light enters theupper surface 10 a, of is the light guide plate 10 at an angle smallerthan a total reflection critical angle. Therefore, the amount of lightoutput near the light incidence surface 10S1 may be larger than that inother areas. In addition, if the first low refractive layer 20_13 isdisposed on the upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10 to beintegrated with the upper surface 10 a, the critical angle becomeslarger than that of an air layer. Therefore, the amount of light outputnear the light incidence surface 10S1 can be further increased. Near anopposite surface 10S3 or other side surfaces 10S2 and 10S4 (see FIG. 1),light reflected by an adjacent housing or chassis may also be emittedupward without following a light guide path. In this regard, the amountof output light may be larger at the edge portions of the light guideplate 10 than in a central portion, and this can be visually recognizedas light leakage on a display screen.

Each of the light transmission blocking patterns 60 and 61 is disposedat the edge portions of the light guide plate 10, where a relativelylarge amount of light is output, in order to block light leakage orincrease luminance uniformity. In some exemplary embodiments, each ofthe light transmission blocking patterns 60 and 61 may be disposed in aquadrilateral frame shape at four edge portions of the light guide plate10. A width of each of the light transmission blocking patterns 60 and61 may be uniform at each edge portion, but may be greatest at an edgeportion near the light incidence surface 10S1 to which a relativelylarge amount of light is input, such as illustrated in association withthe respective portions of the light transmission blocking pattern 61 ofthe FIG. 18. In some exemplary embodiments, each of the lighttransmission blocking patterns 60 and 61 may be disposed only at theedge portion near the light incidence surface 10S1 to which a relativelylarge amount of light is input, or only at the edge portions near thelight incidence surface 10S1 and the opposite surface 10S3.

The first low refractive layer 20_13 is disposed on the upper surface 10a of the light guide plate 10 having the light transmission blockingpattern 60 or 61. The first low refractive layer 20_13 may cover theentire upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10 inside the lighttransmission blocking pattern 60 or 61 and extend up to an upper surface60 a or 61 a of the light transmission blocking pattern 60 or 61 topartially overlap the transmission blocking pattern 60 or 61. Sidesurfaces 20S of the first low refractive layer 20_13 may be located inthe middle of the upper surface 60 a or 61 a of the light transmissionblocking pattern 60 or 61. As such, outer side surfaces 60S or 61S ofthe light transmission blocking pattern 60 or 61 may protrude outwardfrom the side surfaces 20S of the first low refractive layer 20_13.

A wavelength conversion layer 30_13 disposed on an upper surface 20 a ofthe first low refractive layer 20 may also partially overlap the lighttransmission blocking pattern 60 or 61. A passivation layer 40 or 40_13may cover an upper surface 30 a and side surfaces 30S of the wavelengthconversion layer 30_13, cover the side surfaces 20S of the first lowrefractive layer 20_13, and extend up to the upper surface 60 a or 61 aof the light transmission blocking pattern 60 or 61. Accordingly, partof edge portions of the passivation layer 40 or 40_13 may directlycontact the upper surface 60 a or 61 a of the light transmissionblocking pattern 60 or 61, as well as include a step configuration inthe outer side portions.

If a light transmission blocking pattern 60 or 61 is made of aninorganic material, and, thus, has a moisture/oxygen blocking ability,even when the passivation layer 40 is terminated on the upper surface 60a of the light transmission blocking pattern 60 and the outer sidesurfaces 60S of the light transmission blocking pattern 60 are exposedas illustrated in FIG. 17, the sealing structure for the wavelengthconversion layer 30_13 is maintained. However, if the light transmissionblocking pattern 60 or 61 is made of an organic material, and, thus,does not have a sufficient moisture/oxygen blocking ability, thepassivation layer 40 or 40_13 may be formed to cover side surfaces 60Sor 61S of the light transmission blocking pattern 60 or 61. For example,if the light transmission blocking pattern 61 is located inside the sidesurfaces 10S of the light guide plate 10 to partially expose the uppersurface 10 a at the edge portions of the light guide plate 10 asillustrated in FIG. 18, the passivation layer 40_13 may cover the outersurfaces 61S of the light transmission blocking pattern 61 and extend upto the exposed upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views of optical members 115 and 116according to various exemplary embodiments. In FIGS. 19 and 20, theorder in which a light transmission blocking pattern 62 or 63 and afirst low refractive layer 20 are laminated may be changed from theoptical members 113 and 114 of FIGS. 17 and 18.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, each of light transmission blockingpatterns 62 and 63 of the optical members 115 and 116 may be disposed ona light guide plate 10 having a first low refractive layer 20. At leasta portion of each of the light transmission blocking patterns 62 and 63is disposed on an upper surface 20 a of the first low refractive layer20. Each of the light transmission blocking patterns 62 and 63 may coverside surfaces 20S of the first low refractive layer 20.

In some exemplary embodiments, outer side surfaces 62 s of the lighttransmission blocking pattern 62 may be exposed without being covered bya passivation layer 40, as illustrated in FIG. 19. The outer sidesurfaces 62S of the light transmission blocking pattern 62 may bealigned with side surfaces 10S of the light guide plate 10.

In some exemplary embodiments, outer side surfaces 63S of the lighttransmission blocking pattern 63 may be covered by the passivation layer40_16, as illustrated in FIG. 20. The outer side surfaces 63S of thelight transmission blocking pattern 63 may be located further inwardsthan the side surfaces 10S of the light guide plate 10 and expose anupper surface 10 a. at edge portions of the light guide plate 10. Thepassive layer 40_13 may cover the outer surfaces 63S of the lighttransmission blocking pattern 63 and extend further outward to directlycontact the exposed upper surface 10 a of the light guide plate 10.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are cross-sectional views of optical members 117 and 118according to various exemplary embodiments. In FIGS. 21 and 22, theoptical members 117 and 118 are different from the optical members 113through 116 of FIGS. 17 through 20 in that a light transmission blockingpattern 64 or 65 is disposed on a passivation layer 40.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, each of the light transmission blockingpatterns 64 and 65 of the optical members 118 and 119 is disposed onedge portions of the passivation layer 40. Each of the lighttransmission blocking patterns 64 and 65 may contact the surface of thepassivation layer 40. Each of the light transmission blocking patterns64 and 65 may at least partially overlap a wavelength conversion layer30.

In some exemplary embodiments, the light transmission blocking pattern64 may be disposed on the passivation layer 40 to overlap only n uppersurface 30 a of the wavelength conversion layer 30 and not overlap sidesurface 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30, as illustrated inFIG. 21.

In some exemplary embodiments, the light transmission blocking pattern65 may be disposed on the passivation layer 40 and extend outward tooverlap the side surfaces 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30, asillustrated in FIG. 22. Further, the light transmission blocking pattern65 may extend onto the passivation layer 40 in contact with an uppersurface 10 a of a light guide plate 10.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectioned, of an optical member 119 according to someexemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 23, a light guide plate 11 of the optical member 119further includes an edge surface 11 r located between an upper surface11 a and/or a lower surface 11 b and each side surface 11S. The uppersurface 11 a/lower surface 11 b of the light guide plate 11 meets a sideof the edge surface 11 r, and each side surface 11S of the light guideplate 11 meets the other side of the edge surface 11 r. The edge surface11 r is inclined with respect to the upper surface 11 a/lower surface 11b and each side surface 11S. An angle formed by the edge surface 11 rand the upper surface 11 a/lower surface 11 b and an angle formed by theedge surface 11 r and each side surface 11S may be smaller than an angleformed by the upper surface 11 a/lower surface 11 b and each sidesurface 11S. The angle formed by the edge surface 11 r and the uppersurface 11 a/lower surface 11 b and the angle formed by the edge surface11 r and each side surface 11S may be obtuse angles. For example, eachof the angles formed by the edge surface 11 r and the upper surface 11a/lower face 11 b and the angle formed by the edge surface 11 r and eachside surface 11S may be about 135 degrees.

The edge surface 11 r can alleviate the sharpness of each edge portionof the light guide plate 11 and can prevent (or at least reduce)breakage due to an external impact. The edge surface 11 r may be a flatsurface, but may also be a curved surface.

When the light guide plate 11 includes the edge surface 11 r, a lighttransmission blocking pattern 66 may be disposed on each edge portion ofa passivation layer 40_23 and extend outward to be disposed on the edgesurface 11 r of the light guide plate 11, as illustrated in FIG. 23.When the passivation layer 40_23 is terminated on the upper surface 11 aof the light guide plate 11, the light transmission blocking pattern 66may cover side surfaces 40S of the passivation layer 40_23 and directlycontact the edge surface 11 r of the light guide plate 11.

In the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 17 through 20, the lighttransmission blocking pattern 60, 61, 62 or 63 blocks light incidentfrom the light guide plate 10 to the wavelength conversion layer 30_13at a corresponding position, thereby preventing light leakage orincreasing luminance uniformity. In the embodiments of FIGS. 21 through23, however, the light transmission blocking pattern 64, 65 or 66 blockslight finally emitted after passing through the wavelength conversionlayer 30, thereby increasing the luminance uniformity.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are cross-sectional views of optical members 120 and 121according to various exemplary embodiments.

In FIGS. 24 and 25, each of the optical members 120 and 121 may furtherinclude an integrated optical functional layer 81. The optical functionlayer 81 is a layer for changing or controlling the traveling direction,phase, polarization state, etc. of light. For example, the opticalfunctional layer 81 may perform at least one of refracting, condensing,diffusing, scattering, reflective polarization, and phase retardation oflight. The optical functional layer 81 may be a layer performing thesame optical function as a prism film, a diffusion film, a micro-lensfilm, a lenticular film, a polarizing film, a reflective polarizingfilm, a retardation film, etc., typically provided as separate films.The optical functional layer 81 may include an optical pattern whosesurface is structured. The structured optical pattern includes an unevensurface. A cross-section of the uneven surface may have, for example,polygonal shapes, such triangles or trapezoids, part of circles, orellipses, or amorphous random shapes. The uneven surface may includeline patterns extending in one direction or independent dot patterns.However, the structured optical pattern may not necessarily have theuneven surface and may also have a flat surface, like a polarizing filmor a reflective polarizing film.

Each of the optical members 120 and 121 includes a first opticalfunctional layer 81 disposed on a passivation layer 40. Although a prismpattern is illustrated as the first optical functional layer 81 in thedrawings, a micro-lens, or various other optical functional layersdescribed above can be applied. The first optical functional layer 81may be made of a material having a refractive index greater than that ofa first low refractive layer 20. The refractive index of the firstoptical functional layer 81 may be, but is not limited to, 1.5 to 1.8.

The first optical functional layer 81 may overlap a wavelengthconversion layer 30 disposed under the first optical functional layer81. Side surfaces of the first optical functional layer 81 may bealigned with side surfaces 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30 ormay be disposed further inwards than the side surfaces 30S of thewavelength conversion layer 30. In some exemplary embodiments, the firstoptical functional layer 81 may directly contact the passivation layer40 as illustrated in FIG. 24.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first optical functional layer 81 maybe disposed on the passivation layer 40 with a bonding layer 85interposed between the first optical functional layer 81 and thepassivation layer 40, as illustrated in FIG. 25. The bonding layer 85may be made of an adhesive material or a sticky material. In anotherexample, the bonding layer 85 may be a double-sided tape. In anotherexample, the bonding layer 85 may be made of a low refractive materialexemplified as the constituent material of the first low refractivelayer 20. It is also contemplated that the bonding layer 85 may be madeof the same material as the first low refractive layer 20. When thebonding layer 85 is made of a low refractive material, an opticalinterface may be formed between the passivation layer 40 and the,bonding layer 85, and between the bonding layer 85 and the first opticalfunctional layer 81. Thus, optical modulation, such as refractionreflection, can be performed.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of an optical member 122 according tosome exemplary embodiments. In FIG. 26, the optical member 122 mayinclude a plurality of optical functional layers, as will become moreapparent below.

Referring to FIG. 26, the optical member 122 is different from theoptical member 120 of FIG. 24 in that the optical member 122 furtherincludes a second optical functional layer 82 disposed on a firstoptical functional layer 81. A second low refractive layer 84 isinterposed between the second optical functional layer 82 and the firstoptical functional layer 81. The second low refractive layer 84 may bemade of a low refractive material exemplified as the constituentmaterial of a first low refractive layer 20. The second low refractivelayer 84 may be made of the same material as the first low refractivelayer 20. A refractive index of the second low refractive layer 84 issmaller than a refractive index of the first optical functional layer81. For example, a difference between the refractive index of the firstoptical functional layer 81 and the refractive index of the second lowrefractive layer 84 may be 0.2 or more.

When the first optical functional layer 81 includes surfaceirregularities, the second low refractive layer 84 may fill the surfaceirregularities of the first optical functional layer 81. The second lowrefractive layer 84 may fill the recessed portions of the first opticalfunctional layer 81 and cover protruding portions. In some exemplaryembodiments, the second low refractive layer 84 may completely fill aspace between the first optical functional layer 81 and the secondoptical functional layer 82. An upper surface of the second lowrefractive layer 84 may be flat, but exemplary embodiments are notlimited thereto.

The second optical functional layer 82 is disposed on an upper surfaceof the second low refractive layer 84. The second optical functionallayer 82 may be made of a material having a refractive index greaterthan that of the second low refractive layer 84. The refractive index ofthe second optical functional layer 82 may be, but is not limited to,1.5 to 1.8. The second optical functional layer 82 may have the samerefractive index as the first optical functional layer 81.

The second low refractive layer 84 contributes to the coupling andoptical functions of the first and second optical functional layers 81and 82. For instance, since the second low refractive layer 84completely fills the space between the first optical functional layer 81and the second optical functional layer 82, mechanically stable adhesioncan be achieved between the first optical functional layer 81 and thesecond optical functional layer 82. In addition, since a material havinga refractive index lower than at of the first optical functional layer81 is used for the second low refractive layer 84, the optical functionof the first optical functional layer 81 can be maintained to someextent. Generally, the surface of an optical functional layer has astructured pattern shape to change the path of light through refractionor reflection. This optical modulation function is based on theassumption that the optical functional layer has a different refractiveindex from an adjacent medium on its surface.

For example, if the second low refractive layer 84 has a refractiveindex similar to that of the first optical functional layer 81, the pathof light is hardly changed at an interface between the second lowrefractive layer 84 and the first optical functional layer 81 regardlessof the surface shape of the first optical functional layer 81. In thestructure of FIG. 26, however, the refractive index of the second lowrefractive layer 84 is made lower than the refractive index of the firstoptical function layer 81 to form an optical interface between thesecond low refractive layer 84 and the first optical function layer 81.Thus, the path of light can be changed by, for example, refraction. Suchan optical interface may be similarly formed between the second lowrefractive layer 84 and the second optical functional layer 82.

Although a prism pattern is illustrated as a pattern of the secondoptical functional layer 82 in FIG. 26, a micro-lens or various otheroptical functional layers described above can be additionally oralternatively applied. In addition, although a direction in which theprism pattern of the first optical function layer 81 extends and adirection in which the prism pattern of the second optical functionallayer 82 extends are illustrated in the drawing as being parallel toeach other, they may also be orthogonal to each other or intersect eachother at other angles.

The optical members 100 through 122 according to the above-describedvarious exemplary embodiments can be applied to a display device, alighting device, etc. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a displaydevice including an optical member will be described.

FIGS. 27 and 28 are cross-sectional views of display devices 1000 and1001 according to various exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, each of the display devices 1000 and 1001includes a light source 400 or 401, an optical member 100 disposed in anemission path of the light source 400 or 401, and a display panel 300disposed on the optical member 100. Although FIGS. 27 and 28 are shownincluding optical member 100, any one or more of the optical members 100through 122 may be applied as the optical member 100. For convenience,the optical member 100 of FIG. 2 is described and illustrated in FIGS.27 and 28.

Each of the light sources 400 and 401 is disposed on a side of theoptical member 100. Each of the light sources 400 and 401 may bedisposed adjacent to a light incidence surface 10S1 of a light guideplate 10 of the optical member 100. Each of the light sources 400 and401 may include a plurality of point light sources or linear lightsources. The point light sources may be LED light sources 410 or 411.The LED light sources 410 or 411 may be mounted on a printed circuitboard 420 or 421. The LED light sources 410 or 411 may emit light of ablue wavelength.

In some exemplary embodiments, the LED light sources 410 may beside-emitting LEDs that emit light laterally as illustrated in FIG. 27.In this case, the printed circuit board 420 may be disposed on a bottomsurface 510 of a housing 500. In some exemplary embodiments, the LEDlight sources 411 may be top-emitting LEDs that emit light upward asillustrated in FIG. 28. In this case, the printed circuit board 421 maybe disposed on a sidewall 520 of the housing 500.

The light of the blue wavelength emitted from the LED light sources 410or 411 is incident on the light guide plate 10 of the optical member100. The light guide plate 10 of the optical member 100 guides the lightand outputs the light through an upper surface 10 a or a lower surface10 b of the light guide plate 10. A wavelength conversion layer 30 ofthe optical member 100 converts part of the light of the blue wavelengthincident from the light guide plate 10 to another wavelength, such as agreen wavelength and a red wavelength. Light of the green wavelength andlight of the red wavelength are emitted upward together with theunconverted light of the blue wavelength and provided toward the displaypanel 300.

Each of the display devices 1000 and 1001 may further include areflective member 250 disposed under the optical member 100. Thereflective member 250 may include a reflective film or a reflectivecoating layer. The reflective member 250 reflects light output throughthe lower surface 10 b of the light guide plate 10 of the optical member100 back into the light guide plate 10.

The display panel 300 is disposed on the optical member 100. The displaypanel 300 receives light from the optical member 100 and displays animage. Examples of such a light-receiving display panel that receiveslight and displays an image include a liquid crystal display panel, anelectrophoretic panel, etc. The liquid crystal display panel willhereinafter be described as an example of the display panel 300, butvarious other light-receiving display panels can be applied.

The display panel 300 may include a first substrate 310, a secondsubstrate 320 facing the first substrate 310, and a liquid crystal layer(not illustrated) disposed between the first substrate 310 and thesecond substrate 320. The first substrate 310 and the second substrate320 overlap each other. In some exemplary embodiments, any one of thefirst and second substrates 310 and 320 may be larger than the othersubstrate and protrude further outward than the other substrate. In thedrawings, the second substrate 320 disposed on the first substrate 310is larger and protrudes on a side where the light source 400 or 401 isdisposed. The protruding area of the second substrate 320 may provide aspace in which a driving chip or an external circuit board is mounted.Unlike in the drawings, the first substrate 310 disposed under thesecond substrate 320 may be larger than the second substrate 320 and mayprotrude outward. An overlapping area of the first substrate 310 and thesecond substrate 320 excluding the protruding area in the display panel300 may be substantially aligned with side surfaces 10S of the lightguide plate 10 of the optical member 100.

The optical member 100 may be coupled to the display panel 300 by aninter-module coupling member 610. The inter-module coupling member 610may be shaped like a quadrilateral frame when seen from above, e.g., ina plan view. The inter-module coupling member 610 may be located at edgeportions of the display panel 300 and the optical member 100. In someexemplary embodiments, a lower surface of the inter-module couplingmember 610 is disposed on an upper surface of a passivation layer 40 ofthe optical member 100. The lower surface of the inter-module couplingmember 610 may be disposed on the passivation layer 40 to overlap onlyan upper surface 30 a of the wavelength conversion layer 30 and notoverlap side surfaces 30S of the wavelength conversion layer 30. Theinter-module coupling member 610 may include a polymer resin, anadhesive, or sticky tape.

In some exemplary embodiments, the inter-module coupling member 610 mayfurther perform the function of the light transmission blocking patterns60 through 66 described above with reference to FIGS. 17 through 23. Forexample, the inter-module coupling member 610 may include a lightabsorbing material, such as a black pigment or a dye, or may include areflective material to perform a light transmission blocking function.In this case, the light transmission blocking patterns 60 through 66 ofFIGS. 17 through 23 may be omitted or may be applied together with theinter-module coupling member 610 to further increase a lighttransmission blocking rate.

Each of the display devices 1000 and 1001 may further include thehousing 500. The housing 500 has an open surface and includes the bottomsurface 510 and sidewalls 520 connected to the bottom surface 510. Thelight source 400 or 401, the optical member 100 and the display panel300 attached to each other, and the reflective member 250 may beaccommodated in a space defined by the bottom surface 510 and thesidewalls 520. The light source 400 or 401, the reflective member 250,and the optical member 100 and the display panel 300 attached to eachother are disposed on the bottom surface 510 of the housing 500. Aheight of the sidewalls 520 of the housing 500 may be substantially thesame as a height of the optical member 100 and the display panel 300attached to each other inside the housing 500. The display panel 300 maybe disposed adjacent to an upper end of each sidewall 520 of the housing500 and may be coupled to the upper end of each sidewall 520 of thehousing 500 by a housing coupling member 620. The housing couplingmember 620 may be shaped like a quadrilateral frame when seen fromabove. The housing coupling member 620 may include a polymer resin or anadhesive or sticky tape.

Each of the display devices 1000 and 1001 may further include at leastone optical film 200. One or a plurality of optical films 200 may beaccommodated in a space surrounded by the inter-module coupling member610 between the optical member 100 and the display panel 300. Sidesurfaces of one or a plurality of optical films 200 may be in contactwith and attached to inner side surfaces of the inter-module couplingmembers 610. Although there is a gap between the optical film 200 andthe optical member 100, and between the optical film 200 and the displaypanel 300 in the drawings, the gap is may be omitted.

The optical film 200 may be at least one of prism film, a diffusionfilm, a micro-lens film, a lenticular film, a polarizing film, areflective polarizing film, and a retardation film. Each of the displaydevices 1000 and 1001 may include a plurality of optical films 200 ofthe same type or different types. When a plurality of optical films 200are applied, the optical films 200 may be placed to overlap each other,and side surfaces of the optical films 200 may be in contact with andattached to the inner side surfaces of the inter-module coupling member610. The optical films 200 may be separated from each other, and an airlayer may be disposed between adjacent optical films 200.

In some exemplary embodiments, the optical film 200 may be a compositefilm in which two or more optical functional layers are integrated. Acomposite film will now be described in detail with reference to FIG.29.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of an optical film 200 according tosome exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 29, the optical film 200may include a first film 210, a second film 220, and a third film 230integrated with each other.

The first film 210 may include a first base 211, a back coating layer213 disposed on a lower surface of the first base 211, and a firstoptical pattern layer 212 disposed on an upper surface of the first base211. When the optical film 200 is separated from the optical member 100,a back coating layer 213 may be omitted.

The second film 220 may include a second base 221, a first bonding resinlayer 223 disposed on a lower surface of the second base 221, and asecond optical pattern layer 222 disposed on an upper surface of thesecond base 221.

The third film 230 may include a third base 231, a second bonding resinlayer 233 disposed on a lower surface of the third base 231, and anoptical layer 232 disposed on an upper surface of the third base 231.

The first optical pattern layer 212 includes protruding portions andrecessed portions, and part of the protruding portions may contact thefirst bonding resin layer 223 or partially penetrate into the firstbonding resin layer 223 to be bonded to the first bonding resin layer223. In some exemplary embodiments, an air layer may be disposed betweenthe recessed portions of the first optical pattern layer 212 and thefirst bonding resin layer 223.

The second optical pattern layer 222 includes protruding portions andrecessed portions, and part of the protruding portions may contact thesecond bonding resin layer 233 or partially penetrate into the secondbonding resin layer 233 to be bonded to the second bonding resin layer233. In some exemplary embodiments, an air layer is disposed between therecessed portions of the second optical pattern layer 222 and the secondbonding resin layer 233.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first optical pattern layer 212 is amicro-lens pattern layer or a diffusion layer, the second opticalpattern layer 222 is a prism pattern layer, and the optical layer 232 ofthe third film 230 is a reflective polarizing layer. In some exemplaryembodiments, the first optical pattern layer 212 is a prism patternlayer, the second optical pattern layer 222 is a prism pattern layer(extending in a direction intersecting the prism pattern of the firstoptical pattern layer 212), and the optical layer 232 of the third film230 is a reflective polarizing layer. The third base 231 of the thirdfilm 230 may be omitted, and the second bonding resin layer 233 can bedisposed on a lower surface of the optical layer 232. In addition,various other optical functional layers can be used as the first opticalpattern layer 212, the second optical pattern layer 222, and the opticallayer 232. Also, two films or four or more films can be integrated andapplied.

When the optical members 120, 121, and 122 including optical functionallayers integrated with each other are used as in the embodiments ofFIGS. 24 through 26, the entire optical film 200 or some filmsperforming redundant optical functions may be omitted.

In the display devices 1000 and 1001 of FIGS. 27 and 28, the opticalmember 100 and the display panel 300 and further the optical film 200are integrated with each other by the inter-module coupling member 610,and the display panel 300 and the housing 500 are coupled to each otherby the housing coupling member 620. Therefore, even if a mold frame isomitted, a stable coupling of various members is possible, which, inturn, reduces the weight of each of the display devices 1000 and 1001.In addition, since the light guide plate 10 and the wavelengthconversion layer 30 are integrated with each other, the thickness ofeach of the display devices 1000 and 1001 can be reduced. Furthermore,since side surfaces of the display panel 300 are coupled to thesidewalls 520 of the housing 500 by the housing coupling member 620, abezel space on the display screen side can be eliminated or minimized.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of a display device 1002 according tosome exemplary embodiments. In FIG. 30, the position/configuration of aninter-module coupling member 611 may be changed.

Referring to FIG. 30, the display device 1002 is different from thedisplay device 1000 of FIG. 27 in that the inter-module coupling member611 extends further outward on a passivation layer 40 to overlap sidesurfaces 30S of a wavelength conversion layer 30. Further, theinter-module coupling member 611 may extend onto the passivation layer40 that is in contact with an upper surface 10 a of a light guide plate10. In some exemplary embodiments, outer side surfaces of theinter-module coupling member 611 may be aligned with side surfaces 10Sof the light guide plate 10; however, exemplary embodiments are notlimited thereto. Also, the outer side surfaces of the inter-modulecoupling member 611 may be aligned with side surfaces of an overlappingarea of a first substrate 310 and a second substrate 320 of a displaypanel 300, in other words, side surfaces of the first substrate 310relatively smaller than the second substrate 320.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a display device 1003 according tosome exemplary embodiments. The display device 1003 is different fromthe display device 1000 of FIG. 27 in that an inter-module couplingmember 612 includes a sidewall portion 612 w and a lower protrudingportion 612 p.

For example, the sidewall portion 612 w is substantially the same as theinter-module coupling member 610 of FIG. 27. The lower protrudingportion 612 p is connected to the sidewall portion 612 w and protrudesinward from a lower end of the sidewall portion 612 w. The lowerprotruding portion 612 p is thinner than the sidewall portion 612 w. Alower surface of the lower protruding portion 612 p may be attached toan upper surface of a passivation layer 40 of an optical member 100, andan upper surface of the lower protruding portion 612 p may be separatedfrom a display panel 300. An optical film 200 may be inserted into aspace between the upper surface of the lower protruding portion 612 pand the display panel 300. A lower surface of the optical film 200 maybe disposed on and attached to the upper surface of the lower protrudingportion 612 p. Side surfaces of the optical film 200 may contact thesidewall portion 612 w. However, even if the side surfaces of theoptical film 200 are separated from the sidewall portion 612 w, theoptical film 200 can be fixed by being coupled to the lower protrudingportion 612 p. The optical film 200 may be separated from the displaypanel 300. Accordingly, the optical film 200 may be stably fixed bybeing attached to the upper surface of the lower protruding portion 612p of the inter-module coupling member 612.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a display device 1004 according tosome exemplary embodiments. The display device 1004 is different fromthe display device 1000 of FIG. 27 in that an inter-module couplingmember 613 includes a sidewall portion 613 w and an upper protrudingportion 613 p.

The sidewall portion 613 w is substantially the same as the inter-modulecoupling member 610 of FIG. 27. The upper protruding portion 613 p isconnected to the sidewall portion 613 w and protrudes inward from anupper end of the sidewall portion 613 w. The upper protruding portion613 p is thinner than the sidewall portion 613 w. An upper surface ofthe upper protruding portion 613 p may be attached to a display panel300, and a lower surface of the upper protruding portion 613 p may beseparated from an optical member 100. An optical film 200 may beinserted into a space between the lower surface of the upper protrudingportion 613 p and the optical member 100. An upper surface of theoptical film 200 may be disposed on and attached to the lower surface ofthe upper protruding portion 613 p. Side surfaces of the optical film200 may contact the sidewall portion 613 w. However, even if the sidesurfaces of the optical film 200 are separated from the sidewall portion613 w, the optical film 200 can be fixed by being coupled to the upperprotruding portion 613 p. The optical film 200 may be separated from thedisplay panel 300 by a thickness of the upper protruding portion 613 p,except for a portion where the upper protruding portion 613 p is formed.Accordingly, the optical film 200 may be stably fixed by being attachedto the lower surface of the upper protruding portion 613 p of theinter-module coupling member 613.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of a display device 1005 according tosome exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 33, the display device1005 is different from the display device 1000 of FIG. 27 in that aninter-module coupling member 614 includes a first inter-module couplingmember 614_1 and a second inter-module coupling member 614_2. However,the overall shape of the inter-module coupling member 614 may besubstantially the same as that of the inter-module coupling member 612of FIG. 31.

For example, the first inter-module coupling member 614_1 is disposed atedge portions of a passivation layer 40 of an optical member 100, andthe second inter-module coupling member 614_2 is disposed on the firstinter-module coupling member 614_1. The first inter-module couplingmember 614_1 and the second inter-module coupling member 614_2 maycontact and be coupled to each other. An upper surface of the secondinter-module coupling member 614_2 is attached to a display panel 300.The first inter-module coupling member 614_1 protrudes further inwardthan the second inter-module coupling member 614_2. A lower surface ofan optical film 200 may be disposed on and attached to an upper surfaceof the first inter-module coupling member 614_1. Accordingly, theoptical film 200 may be stably fixed by being attached to the uppersurface of the first inter-module coupling member 614_1 of theinter-module coupling member 614.

Unlike in FIG. 33, the overall shape of the inter-module coupling member614 can be substantially the same as that of the inter-module couplingmember 613 of FIG. 32. Such a modification is understood with referenceto FIGS. 32 and 33, and, thus, a description of the modification will beomitted.

According to various exemplary embodiments, an optical member isprovided as an integrated single member capable of simultaneouslyperforming a light guide function and a wavelength conversion function,and preventing deterioration of a wavelength conversion layer through asealing structure. The integrated single member is relatively thin andcan simplify the process of assembling a display device.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concepts are notlimited to such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of thepresented claims and various obvious modifications and equivalentarrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical member comprising: a light guideplate; a low refractive layer disposed on the light guide plate, arefractive index of the low refractive layer being smaller than arefractive index of the light guide plate; a barrier layer disposed onthe low refractive layer; a wavelength conversion layer disposed on thebarrier layer; and a passivation layer disposed on the wavelengthconversion layer, the passivation layer covering a side surface of thewavelength conversion layer on at least one side.
 2. The optical memberof claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises an inorganic material.3. The optical member of claim 2, wherein the light guide platecomprises an organic material.
 4. The optical member of claim 1, whereinthe passivation layer comprises an inorganic material.
 5. The opticalmember of claim 1, wherein the side surface of the wavelength conversionlayer is aligned with a side surface of the barrier layer or locatedfurther inwards than the side surface of the barrier layer.
 6. Theoptical member of claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the lowrefractive layer is 1.2 to 1.4.
 7. The optical member of claim 6,wherein the low refractive layer comprises voids.
 8. A display devicecomprising: an optical member comprising: a light guide plate; a lowrefractive layer disposed on the light guide plate, a refractive indexof the low refractive layer being smaller than a refractive index of thelight guide plate; a wavelength conversion layer disposed on the lowrefractive layer; and a passivation layer disposed on the wavelengthconversion layer, the passivation layer covering a side surface of thewavelength conversion layer and a side surface of the low refractivelayer on at least one side; a light source disposed on at least one sideof the light guide plate; and a display panel disposed on the opticalmember.
 9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the light guide plateand the passivation layer comprise an inorganic material.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 8, further comprising: an inter-module couplingmember disposed at edge portions of the optical member, the inter-modulecoupling member coupling the optical member and the display panel toeach other.
 11. The display device of claim 10, further comprising: oneor more optical films disposed in a space surrounded by the opticalmember, the display panel, and the inter-module coupling member.
 12. Thedisplay device of claim 11, wherein: the inter-module coupling membercomprises: a sidewall portion; and a protruding portion protrudinginward from the sidewall portion; and the optical films are disposed onthe protruding portion.
 13. The display device of claim 11, wherein: theinter-module coupling member comprises: a first inter-module couplingmember disposed on the passivation layer; and a second inter-modulecoupling member disposed between the first inter-module coupling memberand the display panel; the first inter-module coupling member protrudesfurther inward than the second inter-module coupling member; and theoptical films are disposed on a portion of the first inter-modulecoupling member that protrudes further than the second inter-modulecoupling member.
 14. The display device of claim 8, further comprising:a housing accommodating the optical member, the light source, and thedisplay panel.
 15. The display device of claim 14, further comprising: ahousing coupling member coupling side surfaces of the display panel tosidewalls of the housing.
 16. The display device of claim 8, wherein therefractive index of the low refractive layer is 1.2 to 1.4.
 17. Thedisplay device of claim 16, wherein the low refractive layer comprisesvoids.
 18. A display device comprising: an optical member comprising: alight guide plate; a low refractive layer disposed on the light guideplate, a refractive index of the low refractive layer being smaller thana refractive index of the light guide plate; a barrier layer disposed onthe low refractive layer; a wavelength conversion layer disposed on thebarrier layer; and a passivation layer disposed on the wavelengthconversion layer, the passivation layer covering a side surface of thewavelength conversion layer on at least one side; a light sourcedisposed on at least one side of the light guide plate; and a displaypanel disposed on the optical member.
 19. The display device of claim18, wherein the barrier layer and the passivation layer comprise aninorganic material.
 20. The display device of claim 19, wherein thelight guide plate comprises an organic material.
 21. The display deviceof claim 18, wherein the refractive index of the low refractive layer is1.2 to 1.4.
 22. The display device of claim 21, wherein the lowrefractive layer comprises voids.